SAP Data Warehouse Cloud: Implementation Insights from Birchman

Everyone is excited about SAP's new SAP Cloud Data Warehouse application and is eager to learn about its capabilities and the benefits it brings to SAP's portfolio of modern BI.

Birchman had the opportunity to complete a number of Proof of Concepts for customers, which led to the full-fledged implementation for this global customer with a large data footprint.

SAP Data Warehouse Cloud has been positioned as a self-service data warehouse system for Business Analysts, power users and super users.

The main requirement that the client wished to address was the flexibility to perform self-service modelling whilst maintaining data integrity. Whilst SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) does offer a degree of self-service analytics, it does so with IT-delivered data models, which have very limited capabilities to combine multiple models without further developing the models.

SAP DWC provides tools that can empower all levels of users to select, combine and analyse data from different source systems (SAP or non-SAP) using a graphical data model builder. Or for more adventurous users; a free-hand SQL editor.

What Is Datasphere (formerly SAP Data Warehouse Cloud)?

SAP Datasphere, formerly known as Data Warehouse Cloud, is a cloud native data warehousing and analytics platform that enables business users to model, manage and analyse data with greater autonomy. Designed to bridge the gap between IT and business teams, it provides self-service capabilities while maintaining enterprise-grade governance and security. 

It is SAP’s strategic data warehouse solution for organisations that need flexibility without compromising on data governance.

In this blog, we will discuss some of the key advantages of SAP Datasphere as well as some of the limitations that we experienced in the early stages of implementation:

Key Benefits of SAP Data Warehouse Cloud Implementation

• SAP Datasphere can be up and running within 2-3 weeks with connections to SAP and non-SAP source systems.
• A great deal of flexibility to combine data across different functional areas for their cross-functional reporting.
• Create multiple spaces and share with various teams without duplicating data.
• Data replication and direct access options to get data from source tables and views.
• It provides connectivity to a number of on-premise and cloud systems like S/4HANA, BW/4HANA, AZURE.
• SAP Data Warehouse Cloud can be connected to both SAP and non-SAP reporting tools like SAP Analytics Cloud, Analysis for Office and Power BI.
• Business users can use DWC easily with or without the knowledge of SQL scripts.
• Complex data models and reports built on them can easily be shared across team members due to native SAC integration.
• SAP DWC Database Explorer is used for expert modellers with large data requirements.
• 5 million cell restrictions of Analysis for Excel can be overcome using CSV extract by running scripts in Database Explorer.

Challenges and Limitations Encountered During Delivery

• The limitation of parent-child hierarchy means that each node must have a single parent and, a dimension containing a parent child hierarchy, can not include any other hierarchies.
• Planning is not possible at present in SAP Datasphere however it is in the future roadmap.
• Limitations on using Composite Providers directly as source objects with temporal joins are not supported.
• The business content SAP DWC offers is limited when compared to BW/4HANA Business content.

BW/4HANA still remains as the Enterprise Data Warehouse system due to its enriched and robust business content models and reporting across different business modules. 

BW/4HANA and SAC allows the user to do snapshot, historical, trends and KPI reporting to meet users' daily, weekly and monthly requirements by publishing the reports globally.

Modules such as Payroll, HR, Inventory and Treasury need a very complex integration of tables and views which are delivered through Standard business content data sources and data models with highly efficient delta capabilities.

Challenges and how SAP DWC helped to overcome

Change is inevitable in the modern IT world. It’s even more cumbersome for global business users who have been using their own legacy tools for years such as Excel, SE16 (SAP Table display), SQ01 (SAP Query builder) and Power BI with file uploads, to then shift to a newer common BI strategy. However, there are big advantages with regard to data integrity and data governance.

For this customer, introducing SAP Datasphere at the centre of its BI Architecture has made this task easier by empowering users with flexible and user-friendly tools, that not only provides them with analytical capability but also enables them to build cross-functional data modelling from various sources without them worrying about the data extraction; and also enabling them to share this easily with their teams.

This has also helped to attract other teams, who were working in silos across the globe, to come together and work as a common team. They can clearly see the advantages of this SAP Cloud Data Warehouse tool over their own legacy tools.

Birchman has also positioned SAP Datasphere with BW Bridge (which enables SAP BW/4HANA-based functionality to be available as part of SAP Datasphere) to two other clients as an Enterprise Data Warehouse which would be greenfield implementation in 2023.

We will continue to post more blogs sharing our experiences, challenges and feedback from future SAP Datasphere implementations.

Why Choose Birchman as Your SAP Datasphere Implementation Partner

Birchman has worked with SAP Data Warehouse Cloud since its earliest release, delivering Proof of Concepts and enterprise scale implementations across a range of industries. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight when planning and executing a successful deployment. 

Our team understands where SAP data warehouse solution delivers the greatest business value, as well as the considerations and constraints that require careful architectural planning. We help organisations position SAP Datasphere effectively within their wider analytics and data landscape, whether that involves integrating with BW/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) or non-SAP reporting platforms such as Power BI. 

Here is what Birchman brings to every SAP Datasphere engagement:

• Early-adopter experience from multiple Proof of Concept engagements across different industries.
• Deep architecture knowledge to correctly position SAP Cloud Data Warehouse alongside BW/4HANA and SAC.
• Proven BW Bridge implementation experience for greenfield Enterprise Data Warehouse projects.
• Change management expertise to support user adoption alongside technical delivery.
• A phased delivery approach that builds confidence without disrupting day-to-day operations.

User adoption is critical to the success of any SAP data warehouse solution. Achieving it requires structured change management, targeted training and a phased rollout that allows users to gain confidence and embrace new ways of working. 

Future of Enterprise Data Warehousing with SAP Datasphere

The evolution of SAP Data Warehouse Cloud into SAP Datasphere represents a major milestone in SAP’s cloud data strategy. 

SAP is investing heavily in this platform and the roadmap includes planning functionality, deeper integration with SAP Business Technology Platform and expanded business content SAP DWC offerings that will close the current gap with BW/4HANA standard content.

SAP’s vision is for Datasphere to serve as the foundation of a modern, cloud-first data architecture, with SAP Analytics Cloud providing the primary layer for analytics, reporting and planning.  

For organisations currently running BW/4HANA, the BW Bridge capability provides a practical migration path that avoids a disruptive "big bang" transition. Existing investments in BW models, data flows and business content can be retained while gradually adopting a cloud-native architecture at a pace that aligns with business priorities.

The table below summarises the two primary approaches organisations can take when adopting SAP Datasphere.

Birchman will continue to share insights from our ongoing SAP Datasphere implementations. As the platform continues to evolve, our experience across multiple industries and implementation scenarios provides valuable perspective on best practices, common challenges and how organisations can maximise value from their investment.

FAQs

Find answers to common questions about planning and delivering an SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public migration below.

Question #1: What industries benefit most from SAP Datasphere implementation?
Ans: SAP Datasphere suits organisations with complex, cross-functional data requirements.
Retail, manufacturing, financial services and professional services firms tend to see the most immediate value.

Any sector where teams currently work in silos with inconsistent data can benefit from the platform’s ability to centralise and govern data without sacrificing flexibility.

Question #2: How does SAP Data Warehouse Cloud support enterprise data governance?

Ans: SAP DWC enforces a single source of truth by replacing disconnected file-based processes with governed, shared data spaces.

Data access is controlled at the space level and replication options allow IT teams to maintain oversight of what data enters the warehouse.

Question #3: Can SAP Data Warehouse Cloud scale for global organisations?

Ans: Yes. The platform is built on a cloud-native architecture and can scale to support large data volumes and global user bases.

Our implementation for a global client demonstrated that SAP DWC handles enterprise-scale requirements well, though careful space design and data partitioning planning are important for very large deployments.

Question #4: What skills are required for a successful SAP Datasphere implementation?

Ans: A successful implementation typically requires SAP data modelling knowledge, an understanding of the source systems being connected and project management experience.

For initial setup and architecture design, experienced SAP consultants who understand both the technical and change management dimensions will give the project the best chance of success.

Question #5: How does SAP Data Warehouse Cloud reduce reporting complexity?
Ans: SAP DWC provides a single place to connect, model and share data from multiple source systems, eliminating the need for separate data extracts and manual reconciliation.

Business users can build and update their own models as requirements change, rather than raising IT requests for every new report.

Question #6: What should businesses consider before implementing SAP Datasphere?
Ans: Organisations should start by clarifying which use cases they want to address in the first phase, as trying to do everything at once can slow early adoption.

Planning for training and change management from the outset, rather than as an afterthought, will make a significant difference to how quickly users realise value from the platform.